800-Meter Palawan Over-Water Zip Line Ride - Puerto Princesa Manlipien Beach Jungle Trail Peak

WATCH: 800-meter over-the sea fantastic zip line of Puerto Princesa Palawan!

There are lots to do in Palawan and when in the capital, Puerto Princesa, there's one trip a tourist should not miss - the St. Paul Subterranean (Underground) River tour. Because it's a trip that's world famous, there's a waiting time of a few hours. To while away the time, you will be given the option by your tour guide to either ride the 800-meter long zip line or take a boat and row among the mangroves that grow near the protected Manlipien Beach area. Most of the adventurous ones choose the zip line. It's a long ride and takes you over the waters of the Sulu Sea like the wings of a bird. To get there, you will take a short hike along a primeval beach, then go up the side of a mountain thickly covered by an ancient forest. At the top, there's a zip line platform where you will be treated to an amazing view of the shore, the sea, and distant mountains!

This zip line isn't scary at all, though the thought of hanging by a cable for short of a minute (my estimate) can give you butterflies in your stomach. Once you're there (hike up the mountain in a dense primeval forest) and you soak in the awesome view and see kids as young as seven taking the ride, then whatever apprehension you might have would likely dissipate with the wind. It's not everyday that you get to ride an 800-meter zip line over water, so when you do get the chance to visit the Underground River of Puerto Princesa Palawan in The Philippines, do so. You will feel alive and if you're lucky, have a zen-like experience. Oh, and there's also a treat on the tiny island below, which is your destination. It's a very primordial island with layered rock formations that are probably more than 20 million years old, if you would consider the gelogical history of the area.

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Lonely Planet Philippines (Travel Guide) Paperback – June 1, 2015 by Lonely Planet (Author),‎ Michael Grosberg (Author),‎ Greg Bloom

MoKja! Korean Buffet & Barbecue Restaurant in Quezon City is a Must-Try for Tourists

WATCH: The MoKja! Korean Buffet & Restaurant Quezon City, PH tourist experience.

Maginhawa Street of Quezon City in the Philippines has become a kind of food mecca where residents and tourists alike get to treat themselves to restaurants which serve local Filipino and international cuisine. There's so many to choose from and since there has been a level of cultural influence from Koreans who've chosen to make the city their second home, there have also been a boom in Korean food restaurants. One of the popular ones include MoKja!, which is a buffet and barbecue restaurant at the 3rd flr. of 80 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.

"Mokja" is Korean for "let's eat" and this vibe is definitely present when you enter. It's quaint, small, and cozy, so if you're not early, you might have to wait at least a half hour or so before you can be seated. Diners have a maximum time of two hours to eat, so there could be some stomachs grumbling waiting in line to get filled when you get there. By the time you get seated, you might already have the sweet smell of bulgogi beef meat on your clothes since the frying smoke that fills the place can really cling on you. The gold-painted exhaust tubes which hang from the ceiling like some high-tech anime tech gear don't help much to suck out the smoke from the room, although they definitely contribute to the feel of the whole place which seems to be popular with people in their twenties.

MoKja! is really the kind of Korean restaurant where the food becomes part of how friends, co-workers, or family get together over a good meal. If you're a tourist in Quezon City thinking of treating a few friends in a fun restaurant, then MoKja! is a good choice. Just be prepared to wait until you get seated if there's a crowd and also be ready to eat lots of meat. Sure, you can mix your own salad at the buffet table, but that's just secondary to the meat.

BUY on AMAZON: Manila Restaurant Guide 2017: Best Rated Restaurants in Manila, Philippines - 350 Restaurants, Bars and Cafés recommended for Visitors & Tourists, 2017 Paperback

Punta de Fabian Resort in Baras, Rizal Has Great View of Laguna de Bay

Rizal is one big place. It's not exaclty a province separate from Metro Manila, since a big part of it is still well within the urban sprawl of the metropolis, but the fringes are pretty much rural. Lots of resorts are in Rizal and most of them are set either high in the hills or near Laguna Lake (Laguna de Bay). The lake itself is not fit for swimming because it is murky with lots of fish pens. However, the lake does provide a great view (top) and many tourists will find this a good alternative to Tagaytay where Taal lake is viewed.

Shown are portions of Punta de Fabian resort in Baras, Rizal which is a part of Tanay. It is small and is on top of a small and rocky hill. You will need a powerful engine to get to the top since there is a very steep but brief climb after you pass the guardhouse. There are two swimming pools (one small; another an infinity-type) and quaint cottages, most of which have great views. It's ideal for weekend trips with the family and corporate trainings, workshops, seminars, and team-building. The management is courteous and will go out of their way to help out clients with their needs.

The resort has facilities for indoor sports like darts, table tennis, and billiards in the game room. Conference rooms are convenient and spacious and are a short walk to the dining area where clients get treated to packaged European-style meals (below). There is also a videoke bar to release your hidden singing talents. When it rains, it pays to be careful when walking on tiled steps and the mud, both of which can get very slippery.

Giniling (Philippine picadillo) recipe

100 resorts in the PHILIPPINES: PLACES WITH A HEART

Mayon Volcano Greets Air Travelers to Legaspi City in Bicol

What could be a better greeting for air travelers to the Bicol region in the Philippines than being greeting upon landing in Legaspi City airport, by majestic Mayon Volcano? Yes, locals say the volcano shows it's whole beauty very rarely as it is often shrouded in clouds. Consider yourself lucky to get a glimpse of it's smoking crater as your airplane lands. The name Mayon comes from the local term for beautiful, maayon.

Sometimes, the pilot will fly close to the peak and will announce that you can take a peek out the windows (usually on the left) to get a really close look at the summit of Mayon Volcano. It's active, so you'll be treated to while smoke and gas coming out of its crater. You will also be able to see the blackish lava flow that has hardened coming down the slopes. During eruptions, the crater spews rolling balls of exploding lava and it can be a spectacular sight from the ground! Upon landing, you will be able to see Mayon on the right side, but it will be much farther away (top; left).

Please click on the images for a bigger picture!

1915 Photogravure Mayon Volcano Active Albay Luzon Philippines Landscape YTMM1 - Original Photogravure

St. Joseph Church Thrives along Busy Aurora Boulevard

The St. Joseph Church and Shrine in Quezon City in the Philippines thrives in spite of the fact that it is in front of congested and polluted Aurora Boulevard. Visitors there will be amazed at how the shiny altar is kept maintained with the metal adorning it still gleaming despite the corrosive pollution from the road. The huge stained glass windows along the sides and rear make it seem that the church is somewhere peaceful and far from the urban din outside. When the choir is singing, the noise from the jeepneys and other vehicles outside are reasonably subdued.

At the time these photos were taken, a priest was conducting a healing session with parishioners. In spite of the long lines, the priest did not hurry his prayers or rushed the faithful along.He gave each one the honor of his time in healing. The scheduled days for healing are one of the reasons why this church is a very popular place of worship. It's right in the middle of a commercial district where commuters and pedestrians frequently pass and the noise and smell of exhaust from the street can be distracting. Nevertheless, church goers still consider it a good church to hear mass in.

 

The Silent Sentinel: San Pablo Apostol de Cabagan Church Reveals 300 Years of Secrets of the Philippines

Antipolo Hills Sunrise Photo

Have you ever wondered what the sunrise looks over the hills of Antipolo in Rizal (Philippines)? Sometimes, you can be too busy flowing with the morning rush that you simply don't care anymore. Otherwise, you just don't get the benefit of a good view of the sunrise with all the houses and buildings around you.

For those who haven't taken the time to look and for those who are simply curious to see a sunrise over the Antipolo Hills, then here are two pictures you may want to look at. These were taken in the rainy season, which should have lessened the haze, but as you can see there's still what appears to be a sheet of pollution that makes the sun look a bit red even during sunrise. It is usually yellow if the sky is clear.

Ghost hunting in Antipolo? Tips on how to use your digital camera to take photos of ghosts.

 

Gaming Mouse Pad with sunscape image from Antipolo, Philippines